calling all pc experts!

[superbassman2000]

Hehe time for another one of these!

And before anyone asks, I tried turning it off and back on again

Anyways, my recording computer has been randomly shutting off on me. I won't ask everyone why, because there are 5 short of infinity reasons why a computer would shut down. Anyways, my question is, is there a file or something that records what was going on in the system, or what tripped the circuit to automatic shutdown? There is no warning or anything, it's on and then its off.

I have win7 btw and this computer isn't connected to the internet.

[ehque]

Loose power plug?

Is it shutting down, or is it simply dying? Does it restart automatically?

There are some primitive viruses out there that do cause these sort of problems. Are you running an updated copy of antivirus, since you aren't connected to the net?

[Jimbob Jones]

If you have a few $ spare, chuck a new PS in there. Unless you're running a 1kW monster, they aren't very expensive.

[Jay2U]

From the configuration screen, under system management you will find the log books. The system log or the program log might tell you what happened just before shut down. Don't expect too much of it, as many log book entries go like 'Unexpected program end at address EFF6 540A' or something like it.

[Ziltoid]

I'm sure there's a kid playing with your breakers

[Longhair]

Is it rebooting after it shuts down or does it stay off?

What is it set to do in the BIOS when the power goes out?

How old is the CMOS battery?

[gnjpowell]

Technically, that would be infinity PLUS 5.....

[Selta]

Assuming Windows... you can check the event logs. Also, if it's BSOD'ing, that screen is full of useful information. Usually if you grab the stop code and google it, it'll point you to exactly what's wrong.

[maxgrant]

Run eventvwr if it's windows. Look at system and application logs.

A controlled Windows shutdown should have at least two (sometimes three) entries for the event log service itself in the system log. You'll see one that says the event log service is shutting down. Then another when you turn it back on. Depending on the version, sometimes a third. I am used to looking for the three eventvwrs in a row to see if my shutdown was system-initiated or not. Of course, if you jerked the cord out you will see a message like: "The previous system shutdown at 12:06:43 AM on ‎9/‎13/‎2011 was unexpected." If you see normal shutdown and no errors saying unexpected shutdown, just keep scrolling to see if there was a system shutdown initiated by some other process. Also, check the security log for that last shutdown time period and see if some strange account logged in right then.

If you see nothing in eventvwr, see if you can get into your system's BIOS and look at your PC's temperature. It may be too hot, and by too hot I mean like 50-60-70 degrees celsius, and the BIOS may be shutting it down to protect the CPU. Do you have a particularly noisy fan? Or worse, a fan that was noisy and isn't anymore (hint: it probably seized up and is no longer keeping things cool).

If you don't see anything in event viewer or the BIOS pm me with your model and OS and I will see if anything else strikes me.

[Ayce]

If it's just shutting down without warning, or with a long beep, and not rebooting, my first thought would be an overheating CPU. Check the CPU fan and HS for dust.
Mine did that once, and checked things over. Sure enough, the HS and fan were pretty well plugged up with dust. Cleaned out the fan, and it was better. If it's an newer Intel, don't take the HS/fan assembly off the cpu unless you have some heatsink compound handy. If it's AMD, you can usually take the fan off the top, and clean the HS out with a small brush.
You can get a gadget called coretemp that monitors the core temps. I also use CPU meter and GPU meter gadgets to keep an eye on temps and usage.
I have a duo core Intel CPU, and right now, my core temps are 45/46 C.

[Strohsx]

....*sigh*
start ----> right click computer----> click on manage ----> LOGS

CHECK YOUR LOGS
It tells you anything, google the big red X's and find the problem.
If all else fails load Linux.

Sorry long day

[Selta]

Originally Posted by Strohsx

....*sigh*
start ----> right click computer----> click on manage ----> LOGS

CHECK YOUR LOGS
It tells you anything, google the big red X's and find the problem.
If all else fails load Linux.

Sorry long day

Yes, because Linux is impervious to hardware issues, which is very likely the case here.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by gnjpowell

Technically, that would be infinity PLUS 5.....

Technically, infinity plus or minus anything is still infinity

lowsound

[Strohsx]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Yes, because Linux is impervious to hardware issues, which is very likely the case here.

It's logs are sure of a hell lot more descriptive.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by ehque

Loose power plug?

Is it shutting down, or is it simply dying? Does it restart automatically?

There are some primitive viruses out there that do cause these sort of problems. Are you running an updated copy of antivirus, since you aren't connected to the net?

automatically shutting down

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

If you have a few $ spare, chuck a new PS in there. Unless you're running a 1kW monster, they aren't very expensive.

I had considered this as a possible explanation--is there a way to test your PS?

Originally Posted by Longhair

Is it rebooting after it shuts down or does it stay off?

What is it set to do in the BIOS when the power goes out?

How old is the CMOS battery?

it stays off.
i don't know
i don't know lol

Originally Posted by Ayce

If it's just shutting down without warning, or with a long beep, and not rebooting, my first thought would be an overheating CPU. Check the CPU fan and HS for dust.
Mine did that once, and checked things over. Sure enough, the HS and fan were pretty well plugged up with dust. Cleaned out the fan, and it was better. If it's an newer Intel, don't take the HS/fan assembly off the cpu unless you have some heatsink compound handy. If it's AMD, you can usually take the fan off the top, and clean the HS out with a small brush.
You can get a gadget called coretemp that monitors the core temps. I also use CPU meter and GPU meter gadgets to keep an eye on temps and usage.
I have a duo core Intel CPU, and right now, my core temps are 45/46 C.

That was the first thing i was thinking too--i checked the temp in the CMOS and it was lower than the automatic shutdown temp, but it could still be the cause...I'll clean it out tonight.

I also thought maybe my UAD1 was causing it to shutdown...not sure why that would happen, but i am not sure why anything happens at all on my computer.

[Ayce]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

*snip*

That was the first thing i was thinking too--i checked the temp in the CMOS BIOS and it was lower than the automatic shutdown temp, but it could still be the cause...I'll clean it out tonight.

.

Checking the temp in BIOS is only good for basic testing with no "load" on the cpu. That's why I suggested getting coretemp (it's free), Core Temp
This will monitor the core temps under load.
Good to keep running in any case. Sits in the system tray and shows the core temp of all cores. You can set the max temp notification on it as well.

[superbassman2000]

Thanks! I will certainly use that!

Sorry, I must have missed that part about the program in the first readthrough!

[MIJ-VI]

Hardware & software specs?